Red Sox manager OK with Tim Tebow experiment

PORT ST. LUCIE — Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell has no problem with Tim Tebow giving baseball a try.

Farrell watched Tebow, the former NFL quarterback turned minor leaguer, take batting practice before Wednesday’s game at First Data Field. Tebow is making his Grapefruit League debut as a designated hitter against Boston.

“It says he’s not afraid of failure, and I think that’s great for any athlete,” Farrell said. “Athletes are all going to become vulnerable at some point and for a guy who’s been such high-profile in another sport to say, ‘You know what? Hey, I’m willing to take a run at this,’ I think it’s a pretty cool thing,” Farrell said.

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“We’ll see how it plays out, but when you look at the raw power in BP it’s pretty evident. Not to mention, when you’re doing something else in another sport, it says you have some pretty good hand-eye coordination.

“He’s been a guy that, just from the outside looking in, has been scrutinized as an athlete his entire professional life. Not a typical quarterback, yet he finds his way into the highest spot in the NFL. He’s someone who obviously believes in himself.”

Several Red Sox players and coaches lined the dugout during Tebow’s batting practice session — something rarely seen during the spring.

“I watched him take a round or two of BP,” Farrell said. “In BP, he shows plenty of power. I don’t know what it plays like at game speed.”

Regardless of his performance, Farrell said any added attention Tebow brings to baseball this spring is a good thing.

“From an outsiders perspective, I’m sure it can’t hurt,” he said. “I’m not sure what the Mets deal with. There’s been so much talk about our game and what needs to improve. We have a really good game. We have a great game. I know there’s some tweaks that are being talked about or maybe a situation like this that brings some attention. I think what needs to continue to be talked about is how a great of a game it is. Situations like Tim Tebow being a part of it, I think it’s a positive.”